Bitcoin loses momentum as derivatives prop up prices, spot demand lags

Gillian Tett

Bitcoin is entering the holiday period in a state of elevated structural fragility, despite the appearance of price stability. At YourDailyAnalysis, we view current market behavior as being sustained not by durable demand, but by a temporary balance between dense overhead supply and short-term derivatives activity. This configuration often creates the illusion of equilibrium that tends to break down under conditions of thinning liquidity.

The primary constraint remains concentrated supply from holders whose positions were previously underwater. As price approaches their breakeven levels, upside momentum repeatedly encounters distribution rather than accumulation. From our perspective, this dynamic prevents trend formation, turning upward moves into brief and unstable rebounds rather than sustained advances.

Demand composition further reinforces this vulnerability. The absence of consistent spot inflows means price support is largely being generated through derivatives markets. Rising open interest alongside a positive volume delta signals leverage-driven buying rather than genuine capital deployment. Analysts at YourDailyAnalysis note that such demand is inherently fragile: it can accelerate price moves quickly, but tends to unwind just as rapidly when conditions deteriorate.

Recent intraday price action illustrates this clearly. A sharp upside impulse was fully retraced within the same trading session, underscoring the low quality of demand. When rallies fail to hold even over short horizons, it suggests buyers lack conviction to carry risk forward, while sellers remain confident. Historically, these dynamics are amplified during holiday periods when liquidity is thin rather than dampened.

Overhead supply remains a critical technical and behavioral barrier. Higher price zones function not merely as resistance levels, but as active redistribution areas where the market must absorb persistent sell pressure. At YourDailyAnalysis, we believe that without extended consolidation and time to digest this supply, any attempt at a sustainable breakout is likely to be rejected.

At the same time, support near the realized cost basis of active market participants continues to play a stabilizing role. As long as price remains above this level, broader capitulation pressures are restrained. However, we caution that this support is not immutable. In the event of an external shock or a rapid shift toward global risk aversion, downside acceleration could unfold faster than consensus expectations suggest.

The macro backdrop adds another layer of uncertainty. Potential shifts in Japanese monetary policy and the associated unwinding of global carry trades represent a non-trivial headwind for high-volatility assets. From the standpoint of Your Daily Analysis, periods of reduced liquidity tend to magnify the impact of such macro forces, producing outsized moves that are not always aligned with underlying fundamentals.

While favorable inflation data could trigger short-term relief rallies, we expect such moves to remain tactically driven unless confirmed by sustained spot demand. Without that confirmation, upside reactions are likely to be fleeting and prone to rapid reversals.

From our perspective at YourDailyAnalysis, the dominant near-term scenario remains range-bound trading accompanied by heightened volatility and intermittent, short-lived price spikes. A more durable recovery would require a clear shift in demand structure–from leverage-driven positioning toward consistent spot accumulation. Until that transition occurs, the market remains highly sensitive to liquidity conditions, macro triggers and short-term trader behavior, warranting a cautious stance from both traders and longer-term investors.

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